Bison Grass Vodka

I just checked the online store for my local liquor store and they have it in stock so I don’t think it’s banned

It was banned for many years but not any longer. Apparently they changed their formulation somewhat and was taken off the banned list.

My understanding (I brought a bottle back too). It's basically vodka wth some of the "buffalo grass" added to it. There is one of the natural chemical compounds in the special grass that is considered toxic (like absinthe). That doesn't deter the locals, but the US did not allow import. What they now import here in the US version is different, just benefiting from the name recognition. Which kind of makes it less authentic. I'm sure google would confirm or deny.

Zubrowka, meaning from the bison. The joke we heard, is that "zubr" being the Polish word for bison, the Polish bison "water" the grass for us to enjoy watering ourselves. The other story was that a drink made with it and apple juice supposedly tastes like apple pie, and for a time was nicknamed "tatanka", the Lakota word for buffalo, from the old movie "Dancing with Wolves" which was popular over there, way back when.

Thank you for the respones. I watched the Rick Steves Monday Night Travel show last night and he was drinking the Bison Grass Vodka. I did not want to call Rick out during his show.

Paul, I saw the zoom too. And I think he mentioned he brought it back with him, so likely authentic. Or not. It makes a good story either way.

No it's not banned in the US, it's called Zubrowka, you can find it in Bevmo or Total Wine.

There is one of the natural chemical compounds in the special grass
that is considered toxic (like absinthe). That doesn't deter the
locals, but the US did not allow import.

It contains coumarin, which might have some negative health effects, and hence was banned in the US. While food safety rules are great thing and I'm in favour of them, it still seems a bit odd to ban it because of small amounts of coumarin and not because the large amounts of ethanol. (Yes I know that ethanol has been grandfathered in.)

What they now import here in the US version is different, just
benefiting from the name recognition. Which kind of makes it less
authentic. I'm sure google would confirm or deny.

From what I've heard, that is correct.

Had no idea the US version was somehow different. I've had Zubrowka both in Poland and in the US and honestly it taste the same to me, just vodka with a little piece of grass haha.

If you want to try a really interesting drink from Poland consider Polish mead (Miód pitny), straight out of a medieval storybook, and probably the best alcoholic craft drink in central Europe imo! Is actually available in the US.

I brought back a bottle plus a small sample size that I actually drank. It wasn’t good but it didn’t cause any issue through customs. I probably said I had a bottle of alcohol and didn’t go in to detail, but I assume customs cares more about people with many many bottles. Or fresh products.